Detachable End Effectors

摘要

Methods and devices are provided for performing various procedures using interchangeable end effectors. In general, the methods and devices allow a surgeon to remotely and selectively attach various interchangeable surgical end effectors to a shaft located within a patient's body, thus allowing the surgeon to perform various procedures without the need to remove the shaft from the patient's body. In an exemplary embodiment, multiple end effectors can be introduced into a body cavity. The end effectors can be disassociated or separate from one another such that they float within the body cavity. A distal end of a shaft can be positioned within the body cavity and it can be used to selectively engage one of the end effectors. In particular, the device can be configured to allow each end effector to be remotely attached and detached from the distal end of the shaft.

主权项

1. A surgical device comprising:
an elongate shaft including an outer tube and an inner rod positioned in the outer tube, the outer tube and inner rod each including a distal end and a proximal end; an actuator operably connected to the proximal ends of the outer tube and the inner rod; a grasper on the distal end of the inner rod, the grasper having a locked position and an unlocked position dependent on the axial position of the inner rod relative to the outer tube; an end effector adapted for in vivo attachment to and detachment from the elongate shaft, the end effector including
an outer housing,an inner shaft axially moveable relative to the outer housing, the inner shaft including a proximal end having a ball sized and dimensioned to be received in and locked to the grasper, anda pair of surgical jaws having an opened position and a closed position dependent on the relative axial position of the inner shaft and the outer housing.